Edward Hartwick

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Edward Edgar Hartwick (1871-1918) was an American soldier and businessman.

Edward Hartwick by sculpture Julius Loester in Woodlawn Cemetery (Detroit)
Edward Hartwick by sculpture Julius Loester in Woodlawn Cemetery (Detroit)

Edward Hartwick was born in St. Louis, Michigan on September 6, 1871 to Michael Shoat and Jane Augusta (Obear) Hartwick. His ancestor was a brother of John Christopher Hartwick, a Luthern minister who emigrated to the United States from Germany in the early decades of the 18th century. Hartwick, New York and Hartwick Seminary, now Hartwick College were named after him.

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[edit] Military career

His family moved to Michigan and he graduated from Grayling High School in 1888. A year later, in September 1889 Hartwich left Michigan after being admitted to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. He graduated with high honors in 1893. Upon completing his schooling he was appointed a second lieutenant in the 4th Cavalry and shortly there after transferred to the 9th Cavalry Regiment, nicknamed the Buffalo Soldiers. He was to remain in the West until the outbreak of the Spanish-American War was to take him and the 9th to Cuba. [1]

The following report was officially submitted following the action of July 1, 1898 before San Juan Hill.

“ The country is covered with dense undergrowth and great caution had to be exercised to avoid being ambushed by the enemy. In this connection much credit is due 2nd Lieutenant Hartwick, 9th Cavalry, who conducted the movements of the 'point' and 'flankers' in the advance. Lieutenant Hartwick pushed steadily forward until he was fired on by the enemy and directed by me to halt. This officer displayed great coolness in a very trying and dangerous position. During the assault and throughout the entire day, by his courage and prompt action, I was enabled to get the best result from the troop. I recommend him for consideration. [2] ”

An interesting account of the Battle of San Juan Hill appears in Hartwicks biography in which he says, among things, ""The above claim of Colonel Roosevelt is not true:" [3] The claim had to do with exactly when and how and why Teddy Roosevelt "led" the charge up San Juan Hill.

[edit] Private life

Hartwick left Cuba to return to Grayling and on October 19, 1898 married Karen Bessie Michelson. Shortly there after he resigned his commission, effective July 1899. Returning to Grayling, he became engaged in the lumber and banking industries and soon prospered, eventually moving to Detroit.

He was a 32d degree Mason, having been a member of Jackson Lodge, No. 17, F. & A. M., Jackson Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M., Detroit Commandery, No. 1, K. T., Moslem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Detroit, and the Michigan Sovereign Consistory, Valley of Detroit, Michigan. Major Hartwick's clubs were: the Detroit Athletic Club, the Ingleside Club, Detroit Golf Club, Bankers' Club of Detroit, Fellowcraft Athletic Club, and the Detroit Automobile Club. He held membership with the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges, Detroit Real Estate Board, Detroit Board of Commerce, Detroit Real Estate Exchange, Exchange Club, Detroit Y. M. C. A., American National Red Cross, Detroit Retail Lumber Dealers' Association, Milwaukee Junction Manufacturers' Association, and was president and director of the Michigan State Retailers' Lumber Association. [4]

[edit] Return to the military

Following the United States' entry into World War I Hartwick volunteered or service and was commissioned a major in the 20th Engineers. In November 1917 he sailed to Europe. in March 1918 Hartwick became ill with meningitis, and on March 31, 1918, at age 46, he died near Bordeaux, France and was buried in Talence Cemetery "with full military honors." [5]

On December 23, 1920 his remains were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit. Ten months later, in October, 1921, a bronze monument was erected there in his honor.

In 1927 Karen Hartwich purchased over 8,000 acres (32 km²) of land, including the last 85 acres of virgin pine in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and shortly afterwards donated it to the state of Michigan in her husband's name. Thus Hartwick Pines State Park, the largest state park in the lower Peninsula, came to be. [6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Miller, Gordon K., A biographical sketch of Major Edward E. Hartwick, together with a compilation of Major Hartwick's letters and diaries written during the Spanish-American and world wars. privately published, ca. 1921
  2. ^ After-Action Report, H-9th Cavalry
  3. ^ Miller, Gordon K., A biographical sketch of Major Edward E. Hartwick, together with a compilation of Major Hartwick's letters and diaries written during the Spanish-American and world wars. page 14, privately published, ca. 1921
  4. ^ Miller, Gordon K., A biographical sketch of Major Edward E. Hartwick, together with a compilation of Major Hartwick's letters and diaries written during the Spanish-American and world wars. privately published, ca. 1921
  5. ^ Miller, Gordon K., A biographical sketch of Major Edward E. Hartwick, together with a compilation of Major Hartwick's letters and diaries written during the Spanish-American and world wars. privately published, ca. 1921
  6. ^ Northup, A. Dale, Detroit's Woodlawn Cemetery, Arcadia Publishing, 2003